Truman: "I Gave Them an Earful"

An uncovered cache of letters to Bess reveals Harry at his best

Ever since he beheld her curly head in an Independence, Mo., Sunday school one morning in 1890, when he was six and she was five, Harry Truman remained devoted to his beloved Bess. As a young dirt farmer in nearby Grandview, he courted her by mail, weaving words of affection amid tales of work. Over the years his work changed, but the love letters remained a constant, spinning a chronicle of changing times and undying values.

Almost 1,300 such letters have been discovered in the old Truman house in Independence. One batch has been collated by Indiana University Professor Robert Ferrell. It covers the first two years of Truman's courtship, when he described wrestling ornery calves, and the first year of his presidency, when he wrestled with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill at the Potsdam conference. The most significant revelation: Truman, contrary to some speculation, was sincere in his effort to get the Soviet Union involved in fighting Japan. Among the nuggets:

Dear Bessie,

Grandview, Jan. 26, 1910

A pumpkin vine phone is a ten party line. When you want to use it you have to take down the receiver and listen while some good sister tells some other good sister, who is not so wise, how to make butter or how to raise chickens or when it is the right time in the moon to plant onion sets or something else equally important. . . if someone would invent a contraption to shut out the other nine when a person wanted to use the tenth he would be richer and more famous than Edison. But he'd be forever unpopular with us farmers for we'd never know each other's business.

Grandview, Feb. 16, 1910

A fellow traded me a horse yesterday. That is he parted me from a hundred dollars and I have a horse. You know horse trading is the cause of the death of truth in America. When you go to buy they'll tell you anything on earth to get your money. You simply have to use your own judgment, if you have any. I haven't much but I think I got my money's worth.

Grandview, May 9, 1911

Speaking of that--calf. . . I have the sincere satisfaction of knowing that he will some day grace a platter--perhaps my very own . . . Calves are like men, some have sense--and some have not. Evidently, he has not as he can never find his meals unless someone is kind enough to assist him. Even then he's ungrateful, as behold what he did to me. I only grabbed his tail and made a wild grab for his ear in order to guide him around properly when he stuck his head between my legs, backed me into the center of the lot, and when I went to get off threw me over his head with a buck and a bawl.

The White House, June 12, 1945

Just two months ago today, I was a reasonably happy and contented Vice President. Maybe you can remember that far back too. But things have changed so much it hardly seems real. I sit here in this old house and work on foreign affairs, read reports, and work on speeches--all the while listening to the ghosts walk up and down the hallway and even right in here in the study. The floors pop and the drapes move back and forth--I can just imagine old Andy and Teddy having an argument over Franklin.

The White House, June 15, 1945

It was nice to talk with you last night. I was so tired and so lonesome I did not know what to do.

The White House, June 19, 1945

Eisenhower's party was a grand success. I pinned a medal on him in the afternoon. He is a nice fellow and a good man. He's done a whale of a job. They are running him for President which is O.K. with me. I'd turn it over to him now if I could.

Berlin, July 18, 1945

The first session was yesterday in one of the Kaiser's palaces. . . Stalin moved to make me the presiding officer as soon as we sat down and Churchill agreed. It makes presiding over the Senate seem tame. The boys say I gave them an earful. I hope so . . . Anyway a start has been made and I've gotten what I came for--Stalin goes to war August 15th with no strings on it. [The Soviets actually declared war on Japan Aug. 8, six days before the surrender.] I'll say that we'll end the war a year sooner now, and think of the kids who won't be killed!

Berlin, July 20, 1945

We had a tough meeting yesterday. I reared up on my hind legs and told 'em where to get off and they got off. I have to make it perfectly plain to them at least once a day that so far as this President is concerned Santa Claus is dead and that my first interest is U.S.A.

Berlin, July 22, 1945

I bought you a Belgian lace luncheon set--the prettiest thing you ever saw. I'm not going to tell you what it cost--you'd probably have a receiver appointed for me and officially take over the strong box. But I came out a few dollars to the good in the game of chance on the boat, so it's invested in a luxury for you . . . I seem to have Joe & Winnie talking to themselves and both are being exceedingly careful with me.

Berlin, July 25, 1945

We have a setup for the government of Germany and we hope we are in sight of agreement on reparations. So you see we have not wasted time. There are some things we can't agree to. Russia and Poland have gobbled up a big hunk of Germany and want Britain and us to agree. I have flatly refused. We have unalterably opposed the recognition of police government in the German Axis countries.

Berlin, July 29, 1945

It made me terribly homesick when I talked with you yesterday morning. It seemed as if you were just around the corner, if 6,000 miles can be just around the corner. I spent the day after the call trying to think up reasons why I should bust up the conference and go home.

Berlin, July 31, 1945

I rather think Mr. Stalin is stallin'. . . The whole difficulty is reparations. Of course the Russians are naturally looters and they have been thoroughly looted by the Germans over and over again and you can hardly blame them for their attitude. The thing I have to watch is to keep our skirts clean and make no commitments . . . I'll sure be glad to see you and the White House and be where I can at least go to bed without being watched.

Lots & Lots of Love,

Harry This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.